System of building construction



' H. LEWIS SYSTEM OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION I Filed Feb. 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3-; i3, 1%. Ewqs" A5 34 I SYSTEM OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Fil ed Feb. 15, 1945' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 13, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 3 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon in accordance with the provisions of the act of April 30, 1928 (Ch. 460, 45 Stat. L. 467).

This invention relates to building construction and has for its objects generally to improve and simplify the construction of floor, wall, partition and roof systems in structures of various types; to provide connections at horizontal, vertical and oblique joints which will give the maximum of rigidity and stiffness to the structure and which will permit a more positive securing of the various members together; to provide a simple and inexpensive system of construction which will reduce the amounts of material and labor required for the erection of structures; to provide a novel method for combining in one structural unit the function of joists, bridging, and underfiooring; rafters, bridging and roof sheathing; and studs, bridging, sheathing and finish; to provide a novel construction unit which will permit the framing and enclosing of floors, walls, roofs and partitions in one operation; to provide a structural unit by which the maximum load may be carried by a simple method of construction at the minimum expense; to provide a novel form of interlocking joints for the connection of the main members of a structure; to provide a system of construction which will decrease the height required for the exterior walls of a building; to provide a novel construction unit and a system of framing which will materially decrease the weight of the structural elements; to provide a novel 5,

construction unit and system of construction which may be erected and assembled by workmen less skilled in the art than those usually employed; to provide a novel construction unit and system of construction whereby an extremely A strong and rigid lightweight structure may be speedily and cheaply erected without the need for highly skilled labor; to improve and simplify construction, decrease the time and labor required to erect a building, decrease requirements for construction material in construction and increase the efiiciency of the structure.

A further object of the invention is to make possible a novel system of construction whereby several structural elements which heretofore have had to be assembled in three or more operations as for example, floor joists, bridging and underfiooring in floor construction, rafters, bridging and sheathing in roof construction, studding,

bridging and finish in partition construction, and

studding, bridging, sheathing, and finish in exterior wall construction, may now be combined in one.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of the construction unit of a modified U section, formed of any laminated or sheet material, with or without metal reinforcement, so as to permit automatic locking and bracing in any position when framed in combination with one or more similar units and accessories.

The invention further consists in having the legs of the units formed with flanges parallel to the opposite face, thereby obtaining greater stiffness and load carrying capacity, and a larger surface for th attachment of finish, equipment, or the like.

The invention further consists in forming the units so as to meet all structural requirements without resort to specially fabricated connections.

The invention further consists in the novel construction system which permits the framing of these units together in such a manner as to form at once and in one operation, an enclosed structure with continuous floor, wall and roof surfaces, as well as supporting members, these continuous surfaces being ready to receive the finish or, if preferred, to act themselves as finished surfaces for walls, ceilings and partitions.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the relative positions of the structural members in assembled positions,

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end portion of a horizontal floor unit.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View of the preferred form of the building unit.

Fig. 6 is a modification of the same, and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a pair of the construction unit cleats,

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, in which:

i indicates the building unit which may be of any laminated sheet or other suitable material, which as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is of modified U- form having a fiat central web portion 2 and two depending side members 3 which terminate in outwardly extending flanges A parallel with the central web portion 2. These side members 3 have their portions 5 which are immediately adjacent the central web 2, formed. at right angles to the central Web 2 and the balance 6 of the side members converge toward each other to the point tions 5 and the side edgesof the flanges 4 of two assembled units abut each other.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the r vertical units I abut one another to form a continuous wall between floors, and there-is pro-- vided on top of the assembled wait-units a flat horizontal member I. On the under surface of the horizontal member I and conforming -.to the internal shape of the wall units, is. a pair;

of cleats 8 for each unit which are fastened to the horizontal member in any approved manneng. as by nails 9, as shown in Fig. 3. By means ofthese cleats 8, the assembled wall units I are securely locked against displacement.

Referring now to the horizontal floor units --I, it will be seen from Fig. 4 that their end portions ii) are formed with diverging side edges II to conform to the interior formation of the wall units I, as heretofore described, and asshownin Figs; 5 and 6, so that when the end portions H] so -formed are inserted into the interior of the vertical wall units 5, and rest flatly'on the horizontal member I, "an interlocking joint is establishedbetween thevertical unitsand the horizontal floor units. To efiect the joint; the side members- 3 of the floor units I are cut away, as shown in -Fig. 4, to form vertical abutments' I2 on each floor unit I to abut against the horizontal member 7. When the floor units I are assembled in this manner, a continuous floorsurface is formed, as shown in Fig. 1.

For the ceiling units under and supporting the roof members, the end portions of said units are not formed with-diverging side edges, but the side members 3 of each unit are cutaway to provide abutments I2 to abut against the horizontal member "I, and the end of each horizontal unit I, is formed upwardly to form an abutment iii-for the ends of theroof units I. These roof units 5 are assembled to'form a continuous outer surface and have their lower ends beveled at M to seat on the horizontal ceiling units I and to engage the upstanding abutmentslfi of the horizontal ceiling units;

It is apparent thatthe wall units may be sheathed -or otherwise-processed or treated to form-anyflnish desired, while the floors, ceilings 1. A system of building constructionwhich includesa plurality of vertical wall, horizontal floor and. pitched roof units of modified U section, each unit having a central web portion and two'side' members, the portion of each. side "member'directly adjacent the central web portion of the unit being disposed at right angles to the central web-portion, the next adjacent portions of the two side members converging toward each other, a flange formed at the termination of each side member and extending outwardly therefrom so that the lateral edge of each flange lies in the same plane as the outer surface of the rectangular portion of each side member, whereby the rectangular portions. of. the side members and the lateral .edges :of the. flanges of two units will abut each other when the two units are assembled together, the end portions of the horizontal floor units being adapted to enter within thevertical wall units and shaped to =conformto" the said converging side members thereof to lock the ends of the horizontal floor units within the interiors of the vertical walleunits.

2. A system of building construction which includes a piurality'of vertical wall units, a plurality of horizontal floor and ceiling units and a plurality of roof units, each of said units being of a modified- U section, each-unit having a central web portion and two side portions converging toward each other, a flange at the termination of each side portion and extending outwardly'therefrom sothat the lateral edge of one flange will abut against the lateral edgeof another flange whentwo of the units are assembled together, a horizontal member positioned on the ends of the vertical Wall members, means on the horizontal member for efiecting aninterlocking engagement with each vertical wall unit, the vertical wall units above said horizontal memher being adapted to rest on said horizontal member, the end'portions of the horizontal floor units being shaped to conform to the converging side portions-of the vertical wall units resting on the said horizontal member, the said formed end portions being also adapted to rest on the said horizontalmernber, and to form interlocking engagement with the' vertical-Wall units, and to provide an abutment for engagement with the said horizontal member.

3. "A system of building construction'which includes a plurality'of vertical wall units, a plu rality of horizontal floor and ceiling unitsand a plurality of roof units, each of said'um'ts'being of a modified U section, each unit having a central web portion and two side portions converging toward each' other, a flange at the termination of each side portion and extending outwardly therefrom so that the lateral edge of one flange of one unit will abut against the lateral edge of a flange of an adjacent'uni-t when two of the units are assembled together, a horizontal member located on the topends of the vertical wall-units adjacent the roof unitsg'said horizontal member including means which enter within the ends of the wall units for cooperationwith the said converging side members of the wall units for retaining the'saidhorizontal mem-:

her in fixed operative position, the end portions of the horizontal floor and ceiling units ibeing shaped .so that :the central web 1 portions: thereof: rest :upon the said. horizontal memher and; the; converging side portionszthereof. form a vertical abutment for the said ho-rizontalzmember,i' the.' said roof units having-their ends:beveled-:to::rest

upon; the said horizontal member,: andanpabutment. formedon the end of the floor and ceilings; units for engagement with the :endsro-f the roof.

units;

HARLOW LEWIS: 

